Key Differences Between GAAP and IFRS: What Your Business Needs to Know

"Key Differences Between GAAP and IFRS: What Your Business Needs to Know" equips participants with a practical understanding of the most important distinctions between U.S. GAAP and IFRS and their impact on financial reporting.

The session is tailored for professionals who need to interpret, analyze, or act on financial information across jurisdictions, without requiring an accounting background.

The course begins by explaining the philosophical and structural differences between the two frameworks. GAAP is rules-based, emphasizing detailed guidance and strict procedures. IFRS is principles-based, giving organizations more flexibility and requiring greater judgment in reporting. Understanding this distinction helps participants anticipate areas where financial statements might differ despite representing the same economic reality.

Why you should Attend:
Global business increasingly relies on financial information that is transparent, consistent, and comparable. However, if your organization interacts with international partners, reviews foreign financial statements, or engages in cross-border reporting, you may encounter confusion due to differences between GAAP and IFRS.

Have you ever tried to compare a U.S.-based partner’s financials with those of a European or Asian company and found the numbers difficult to reconcile? Have you faced challenges in understanding revenue recognition, asset valuation, lease accounting, or financial disclosures because the frameworks differed? Misunderstanding these differences can lead to flawed analysis, misjudged risk, compliance gaps, or inaccurate reporting to stakeholders and regulators.

GAAP and IFRS differ in how they approach rules versus principles, asset and liability measurement, revenue recognition, and required disclosures. Even minor differences can materially affect reported earnings, balance sheet valuations, and key ratios used for investment, credit, or strategic decisions.

This training helps participants eliminate uncertainty by highlighting the practical distinctions that matter most for businesses. Participants will learn:

• How GAAP and IFRS differ in approach and philosophy
• Critical areas of divergence in revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and equity
• How differences affect financial analysis, reporting, and compliance
• Practical strategies to interpret foreign financial statements and align cross-border reporting

• GAAP vs. IFRS: Overview and philosophical differences
• Key distinctions in revenue recognition
• Asset valuation, depreciation, and revaluation differences
• Lease accounting treatment and presentation differences
• Financial instruments classification and measurement
• Treatment of intangibles and goodwill
• Disclosure requirements: GAAP vs. IFRS
• Practical examples of financial statement differences
• Cross-border reporting and compliance considerations
• Implications for risk assessment, auditing, and decision-making

• Compliance Professionals
• Risk Managers
• Financial Crime and AML Professionals
• Operations Managers
• Product Managers
• Internal Auditors
• Fintech Partner Managers
• Vendor Management Teams
• Analysts and Business Strategists
• Anyone who reviews or relies on Financial Data